Toothbrush with Adjustable Bristle Firmness

ABSTRACT

A toothbrush with adjustable bristle firmness is a device that is used to brush teeth and allows the user to select a desired bristle firmness. The device includes a brush handle that is grasped during use. A brush head is connected to the brush handle and include a plurality of stationary bristles and a plurality of bristle platforms. A plurality of adjustable bristles is distributed on the plurality of bristle platforms. The plurality of bristle platforms is retractably mounted into the brush head, enabling a plurality of medium bristles and a plurality of firm bristles to be extended from and retracted into the brush head as desired by the user. The desired bristle firmness is selected by actuating a firmness selection switch that is mechanically coupled to the plurality of bristle platforms through a bristle adjustment mechanism.

The current application claims a priority to the U.S. Provisional Patent application Ser. No. 62/386,547 filed on Dec. 7, 2015.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to a toothbrush. More specifically, the present invention is a toothbrush with adjustable bristle firmness that allows the user to select a desired bristle firmness while brushing his or her teeth.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Toothbrushes are one of the most commonly used oral hygiene instruments used to clean the teeth, gums, and tongue. Toothbrushes are available in a wide variety with various different types of bristle textures, sizes, and forms available. Bristles are generally available in soft, medium, and firm options. Firm bristles are more efficient in breaking down and reducing plaque. However, excessive brushing with firm bristles may cause damage to tooth enamel and irritate the gums. Soft and extra-soft bristles are considered suitable for those with sensitive teeth or enamel erosion. However, dentists generally recommend the use of a toothbrush with medium bristles as a compromise between soft bristles and hard bristles. Alternatively, it is possible to brush for longer periods of time with a soft bristled toothbrush.

The present invention is a toothbrush with adjustable bristle firmness that provides multiple levels of bristle firmness that the user may select when brushing his or her teeth. In its preferred embodiment, the present invention includes three different levels of bristle firmness including soft, medium, and firm. The user is able to manually select the desired level of firmness from the three different levels of bristle firmness.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram depicting the bristle adjustment mechanism of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a front view of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a front view of the brush head of the present invention.

DETAIL DESCRIPTIONS OF THE INVENTION

All illustrations of the drawings are for the purpose of describing selected versions of the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention.

The present invention is a toothbrush with adjustable bristle firmness. The present invention is shown in FIGS. 1-4 and comprises a brush handle 1, a brush head 2, a bristle adjustment mechanism 3, a firmness selection switch 4, a plurality of bristle platforms 5, a plurality of stationary bristles 14, and a plurality of adjustable bristles 15.

The brush handle 1 is the portion of the present invention that is grasped by the user during use of the present invention. The brush head 2 is the portion of the present invention that cleans the user's teeth during brushing. The brush head 2 is terminally connected to the brush handle 1 as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 3, allowing the brush handle 1 to be grasped when the brush head 2 is placed into the user's mouth during brushing. The present invention further comprises a plurality of bristle platforms 5 on which a plurality of adjustable bristles 15 is present. The plurality of adjustable bristles 15 is distributed about the plurality of bristle platforms 5 as shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, enabling the user to select the desired firmness from the plurality of adjustable bristles 15. The plurality of bristle platforms 5 is retractably mounted into the brush head 2, enabling the user to select the desired level of firmness from the plurality of adjustable bristles 15. The plurality of bristle platforms 5 may thus extend from or retract into the brush head 2 based on the user's selection.

The bristle adjustment mechanism 3 enables the user to switch between brushing with bristles of varying firmness by extending or retracting the plurality of bristle platforms 5. The firmness selection switch 4 is utilized to manually select the desired firmness level. The firmness selection switch 4 is mechanically coupled to the plurality of bristle platforms 5 through the bristle adjustment mechanism 3 as shown in FIG. 2. As a result, the user is able to actuate the firmness selection switch 4 in order to extend or retract the plurality of bristle platforms 5 on the brush head 2. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the firmness selection switch 4 is slidably engaged to the brush handle 1, enabling the user to toggle the various firmness levels of the plurality of adjustable bristles 15. Additionally, the firmness selection switch 4 may be locked into place on the brush handle 1 after the user has made a firmness selection. The present invention further comprises a plurality of stationary bristles 14. The plurality of stationary bristles 14 is utilized when the plurality of bristle platforms 5 and the plurality of adjustable bristles 15 are retracted into the brush head 2. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the plurality of stationary bristles 14 is a plurality of soft bristles.

The plurality of stationary bristles 14 is distributed about the brush head 2, adjacent to the plurality of bristle platforms 5 as shown in FIG. 4. The plurality of stationary bristles 14 may thus be utilized when the plurality of bristle platforms 5 and the plurality of adjustable bristles 15 are retracted into the brush head 2.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the plurality of adjustable bristles 15 comprises a plurality of medium bristles 16 and a plurality of firm bristles 17. The plurality of stationary bristles 14, the plurality of medium bristles 16, and the plurality of firm bristles 17 provide three different levels of bristle firmness. As shown in FIG. 4, a selected quantity of firm bristles from the plurality of firm bristles 17 is centrally positioned on a corresponding platform from the plurality of bristle platforms 5.

The selected quantity of firm bristles from the plurality of firm bristles 17 is encircled by a selected quantity of medium bristles from the plurality of medium bristles 16. The selected quantity of firm bristles from the plurality of firm bristles 17 is thus positioned within the selected quantity of medium bristles from the plurality of medium bristles 16. The selected quantity of firm bristles from the plurality of firm bristles 17 and the selected quantity of medium bristles from the plurality of medium bristles 16 are thus able to extend from and retract into the brush head 2 independently of each other.

With continued reference to FIG. 4, the plurality of bristle platforms 5 comprises a plurality of circular platforms 6 and a plurality of ring platforms 10 that are able to extend from and retract into the brush head 2 independently of each other. Each circular platform from the plurality of circular platforms 6 is positioned centrally within a corresponding ring platform from the plurality of ring platforms 10. Additionally, each circular platform from the plurality of circular platforms 6 is positioned through a corresponding ring platform from the plurality of ring platforms 10. As a result, each circular platform from the plurality of circular platforms 6 is able to slide within a corresponding ring platform from the plurality of ring platforms 10. The plurality of medium bristles 16 is positioned on the plurality of ring platforms 10 while the plurality of firm bristles 17 is positioned on the plurality of circular platforms 6. The plurality of medium bristles 16 and the plurality of ring platforms 10 are thus able to extend from and retract into the brush head 2 independently of the plurality of firm bristles 17 and the plurality of circular platforms 6.

With further reference to FIG. 4, in the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the plurality of circular platforms 6 comprises a first circular platform 7, a second circular platform 8, and a third circular platform 9. The first circular platform 7 is positioned adjacent to the brush handle 1 while the third circular platform 9 is positioned opposite to the brush handle 1. The second circular platform 8 is positioned in between the first circular platform 7 and the third circular platform 9, resulting in a linear arrangement for the first circular platform 7, the second circular platform 8, and the third circular platform 9. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the first circular platform 7, the second circular platform 8, and the third circular platform 9 extend from and retract into the brush head 2 simultaneously, ensuring even extension and retraction of the plurality of firm bristles 17.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the plurality of ring platforms 10 comprises a first ring platform 11, a second ring platform 12, and a third ring platform 13. The first ring platform 11 is positioned adjacent to the brush handle 1 while the third ring platform 13 is positioned opposite to the brush handle 1. The second ring platform 12 is positioned in between the first ring platform 11 and the third ring platform 13, forming a linear arrangement for the first ring platform 11, the second ring platform 12, and the third ring platform 13. The first ring platform 11, the second ring platform 12, and the third ring platform 13 extend from and retract into the brush head 2 simultaneously, ensuring even extension and retraction of the plurality medium bristles 16.

Although the present invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment, it is understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as hereinafter claimed. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A toothbrush with adjustable bristle firmness comprises: a brush handle; a brush head; a plurality of bristle platforms; a bristle adjustment mechanism; a firmness selection switch; a plurality of stationary bristles; a plurality of adjustable bristles; the brush head being terminally connected to the brush handle; the plurality of bristle platforms being retractably mounted into the brush head; the firmness selection switch being mechanically coupled to the plurality of bristle platforms through the bristle adjustment mechanism; the plurality of stationary bristles being distributed about the brush head, adjacent to the plurality of bristle platforms; and the plurality of adjustable bristles being distributed about the plurality of bristle platforms.
 2. The toothbrush with adjustable bristle firmness as claimed in claim 1 further comprises: the plurality of adjustable bristles comprises a plurality of medium bristles and a plurality of firm bristles; a selected quantity of firm bristles from the plurality of firm bristles being centrally positioned on a corresponding platform from the plurality of bristle platforms; and the selected quantity of firm bristles being encircled by a selected quantity of medium bristles from the plurality of medium bristles.
 3. The toothbrush with adjustable bristle firmness as claimed in claim 1 further comprises: the plurality of bristle platforms comprises a plurality of circular platforms and a plurality of ring platforms; and each circular platform from the plurality of circular platforms being positioned centrally within a corresponding ring platform from the plurality of ring platforms.
 4. The toothbrush with adjustable bristle firmness as claimed in claim 3 further comprises: the plurality of adjustable bristles comprises a plurality of medium bristles and a plurality of firm bristles; the plurality of medium bristles being positioned on the plurality of ring platforms; and the plurality of firm bristles being positioned on the plurality of circular platforms.
 5. The toothbrush with adjustable bristle firmness as claimed in claim 3 further comprises: the plurality of circular platforms comprises a first circular platform, a second circular platform, and a third circular platform; the first circular platform being positioned adjacent to the brush handle; the third circular platform being positioned opposite to the brush handle; and the second circular platform being positioned in between the first circular platform and the third circular platform.
 6. The toothbrush with adjustable bristle firmness as claimed in claim 3 further comprises: the plurality of ring platforms comprises a first ring platform, a second ring platform, and a third ring platform; the first ring platform being positioned adjacent to the brush handle; the third ring platform being positioned opposite to the brush handle; and the second ring platform being positioned in between the first ring platform and the third ring platform.
 7. The toothbrush with adjustable bristle firmness as claimed in claim 3 further comprises: each circular platform from the plurality of circular platforms being positioned through a corresponding ring platform from the plurality of ring platforms.
 8. The toothbrush with adjustable bristle firmness as claimed in claim 1 further comprises: the firmness selection switch being slidably engaged to the brush handle.
 9. The toothbrush with adjustable bristle firmness as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plurality of stationary bristles is a plurality of soft bristles.
 10. A toothbrush with adjustable bristle firmness comprises: a brush handle; a brush head; a plurality of bristle platforms; a bristle adjustment mechanism; a firmness selection switch; a plurality of stationary bristles; a plurality of adjustable bristles; the plurality of bristle platforms comprises a plurality of circular platforms and a plurality of ring platforms; the brush head being terminally connected to the brush handle; the plurality of bristle platforms being retractably mounted into the brush head; the firmness selection switch being mechanically coupled to the plurality of bristle platforms through the bristle adjustment mechanism; the plurality of stationary bristles being distributed about the brush head, adjacent to the plurality of bristle platforms; the plurality of adjustable bristles being distributed about the plurality of bristle platforms; and each circular platform from the plurality of circular platforms being positioned centrally within a corresponding ring platform from the plurality of ring platforms.
 11. The toothbrush with adjustable bristle firmness as claimed in claim 10 further comprises: the plurality of adjustable bristles comprises a plurality of medium bristles and a plurality of firm bristles; a selected quantity of firm bristles from the plurality of firm bristles being centrally positioned on a corresponding platform from the plurality of bristle platforms; and the selected quantity of firm bristles being encircled by a selected quantity of medium bristles from the plurality of medium bristles.
 12. The toothbrush with adjustable bristle firmness as claimed in claim 10 further comprises: the plurality of adjustable bristles comprises a plurality of medium bristles and a plurality of firm bristles; the plurality of medium bristles being positioned on the plurality of ring platforms; and the plurality of firm bristles being positioned on the plurality of circular platforms.
 13. The toothbrush with adjustable bristle firmness as claimed in claim 10 further comprises: the plurality of circular platforms comprises a first circular platform, a second circular platform, and a third circular platform; the first circular platform being positioned adjacent to the brush handle; the third circular platform being positioned opposite to the brush handle; and the second circular platform being positioned in between the first circular platform and the third circular platform.
 14. The toothbrush with adjustable bristle firmness as claimed in claim 10 further comprises: the plurality of ring platforms comprises a first ring platform, a second ring platform, and a third ring platform; the first ring platform being positioned adjacent to the brush handle; the third ring platform being positioned opposite to the brush handle; and the second ring platform being positioned in between the first ring platform and the third ring platform.
 15. The toothbrush with adjustable bristle firmness as claimed in claim 10 further comprises: each circular platform from the plurality of circular platforms being positioned through a corresponding ring platform from the plurality of ring platforms.
 16. The toothbrush with adjustable bristle firmness as claimed in claim 10 further comprises: the firmness selection switch being slidably engaged to the brush handle.
 17. The toothbrush with adjustable bristle firmness as claimed in claim 10, wherein the plurality of stationary bristles is a plurality of soft bristles. 